THEY DIDN'T EVEN HAVE THE CHANCE

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Disclaimer: Natsume Yuujinchou belongs to Yuki Midorikawa. Fukigen na Mononokean belongs to Kiri Wazawa. Bleach belongs to Tite Kubo. Danny Phantom belongs to Butch Hartman. Iron Man and Avengers 2 belongs to Marvel

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Genre: Drama

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Warning: Typo is my most loyal fan. Spelling mistakes because English is not my mother language. Possibly OOC. Fluff. NOT BETA so beware of grammar mistakes

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Summary: Tony didn't want to. But if it means fewer people will get killed, he swallowed his question and help them get back the scepter

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(A/N): I'm sorry for the late update. Cuz I haven't finished all the chapters of Avenger Ultron (I'm writing chap 3 as I wrote this A.N), I decided not to upload it or else I'm going to drop it halfway like my other fanfics. Not abandon it, just take a very long time to continue writing the next chap cuz I have other things to do a.k.a reading fanfics, manga or light novel lol.

But yeah. The updates pace of this series is going to dwindle down tho' I promised not to leave you all on ciffhanger before I go to semi-hiatus.

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The media knew something happened at Stark Industries, but they didn't know what. The only thing they could see was there was a sudden influx of new employees in R&D, science, and guards sections. And most of the new employees was intimidating as hell. As one of the stubborn reporter that tried to sneak a peek into the inside of Stark corp. almost pissed himself when one of the guards cocked a gun and pointed it right at his forehead.

Yet they knew something deep went on behind the scene because they could sense the melancholy from them. From the new employee, from the head of the guards, from the War Machine that kept visiting the tower more often than before, even the stern Pepper Pots. In the next press that was scheduled for Tony Stark to take the podium and announced the new tech from R&D—he promised to add a couple of original Stark APP for Starkphone and solar power plant for the country that still have a difficulty on obtaining normal electricity—the man was nowhere to be seen and was replaced by the vice-leader of the said section. When it was time for Q&A, of course, the first question that the media threw was—

"Where's Tony Stark?"

He answered that question with ease, said that his boss was busy creating another new tech and didn't want to be disturbed. The media knew it was a lie though. Tony Stark may be irresponsible, always late to everything, especially if he wanted to pissed his best friends off. But he never skips on the press. It was the only time he could brag about his newest 'baby', borrowing his words. A time where he could shine flawlessly without fearing for the backlash of the other rival company or jealous media. Because be as it may, you could never lie in a LIVE broadcast. When one of the journalists wanted to call on that bullshit, however, Pepper gave them her deadly gaze that promised pain in the future if they don't start to shut up now I'm in a bad mood don't try me. They wisely back off.

While the media was stewing in curiosity, Tony Stark was brooding inside his lab. Well, not exactly brooding, but watching his friends and the kids—the mechanical and the real one—running around the place. Tucker informed the others after Tony mental breakdown yesterday and it didn't take long for Haruitsuki to opened up the Mononokean and bring everyone over. Takashi practically threw Nyanko-sensei at him and the fat cat gleefully kicked his head. Tony didn't have time to grumble as Hanae glomped him, telling him his awesome day in a rushed manner. Tony could only blink in confusion at that when Hanae suddenly cried and held him tight, telling him it was okay to mourned we will be here for you please don't hide your feeling any more than this.

Hanae was always the crybaby one in their group. The billionaire was never tired of making fun of that.

But just this once, Tony hugged him tightly and let out a silent sob, just this once.

He wanted to stop acting.

He chuckled as he watched Clint yelped in surprise when Dum-E rolled to him and accidentally spilled the smoothie-that-was-actually-more-of-a-motor-oil-than-a-smoothie right at his face. It took another week and a half, but his heart was lighter now after the grim discoveries of the truth. He knew his friends and kids have other things to worry, have their own darkness to face, but they still lent their precious times to comfort him and that was all he needs.

Friends never leave each other back.

(He was glad that he didn't let that goody-two-shoes of a fake hero to be his friend. Never let him wormed his way into his heart)

(Or the betrayal will tear him apart)

"Tony," the mistress appeared on her usual perch. She looked...hesitant; a rare expression.

Oh yeah, it has been a week too, that the God was nowhere to be seen. He was caught by his sorrow that day. When the Mistress tried to talk to him (soothe him, cradle him like his mother used to be) he shouted, hissed at her to leave him alone. After he calmed down though, Tony realized he didn't mean any of that. He knew, deep down, even if he is—not bragging—the Mistress favorite, she has her own duty to humanity. That he couldn't threaten the balance of life and death just to appease one mortal. Sure, she helped him before. Told him that, in alternate universes, there existed a world where Tony died in Loki's invasion after Loki threw him out of the window and his armor couldn't catch him in time. Or the government doomed all of the innocent life in New York after they dropped a missile to obliterate the Chitauries. Or Tony was trapped in the endless space after he directed the missile into the portal, killing an army of Chitauries, saving the New York but sacrificing himself in the process. Or Tony plummeted to death when the Hulk was too far away to catch him as he fell down from the portal. There was also exist a world where he avoided all of that, but that world was where Tony believed in Rogers and was betrayed spectacularly in the end.

He felt bad for that Tony. He hoped, even though all of that Tony's entire life was full of shit and criticisms, his best friends (his real, best friends) will never leave him alone. Like his friends right now.

As Mistress had guided him to an entirely new route, she needed the other misery to befall him or it'll destroy the balance of the world because of her tamperings. That was why he didn't blame her when she didn't help him in Killian Fiasco. When Pepper was in danger and almost die. It was a small price he had to pay for being her favorite property.

The other price though, it was hurt.

(He really, really, hoped that Tony was strong enough to overcome the ordeal)

He grinned at the Mistress, "hey, Mistress. Where have you been? I'm starting to miss you, you know."

The Mistress blinked, "you're...not mad at me?"

Tony smiled and patted her bony hand, "never, Mistress. It's not your fault, you know that. You're just trying to maintain the balance," when the Mistress was ready to open her mouth, maybe rebutted his words and gave him an excuse of why she should at least gave him a clear warning, he shook his head, "no, it's okay. It was...a shock, but at least it was in a control area. And my friends and the kids were ready to comfort me," he glanced at the ensuing chaos—Sam shoot her Fenton wrist gun to Tucker but he avoided it and Hanae was now covered in gunk. Everyone laughed, "I'm lucky to have them, you, by my sides, you know. So, no. I'm not blaming you."

The Mistress was doubtful for a second. Still, looking at his real smile placated her and she proceeded to hug him.

When Pepper reminded the kids it was almost seven thirty AM now, so it must be eight thirty PM in Japan, it was time for them to go home. While Danny and Peter need to go to school because it was Thursday, you can't skip the school. They gave him their own share of hug and Tony was now alone; with only his friends, SP and Mistress to accompany him. They were tidying up the mess—the empty box of food and dirty cups—before the hologram appeared at the center of the lab and Happy was there to informed him something. He looked annoyed and...a little angry, "boss. Rogers and Romanova wanted to meet you."

He froze.

"I told them you're too busy with your work. That son of a bitch Rogers almost force his way through but JARVIS scared him," he smugly smirked, "I told you those guns on the front door will come in handy someday."

Another hologram blipped on and it was Bruce, "Tony, JARVIS told me about Rogers and Romanova—oh, morning, Happy," the Doctor nodded at the head of the guard and continued, "I don't think I can help much but what should we do about them?"

An uncomfortable silent enveloped them, Tony felt like his happy mood after watching his kids joking around was years ago. Nevertheless, he took a deep breath and exhaled, he needs to move forward. He couldn't keep being this boring and gloomy man. For the sake of everyone. And him. Because being this sad exhausting his entire body (it reminded him with his teenage-self years ago. When he drown himself in alcohol to run away from reality, to forget the cruel fact that his parents were gone gone gone). Besides—

"J, can you open up the video when you threatened Rogers and Romanova?"

"Tony?" Rhodey was confused.

"With pleasure, sir," the third holograms appeared. It showed the familiar bulky man and a slender woman, talking heatedly with Happy. When Rogers was ready to push him away, several gun turrets and submachine suddenly popped out from the ceiling. It shocked Rogers so much, he stepped back, lose his balance and tumbled down from the front stairs like a ragdoll.

Tony couldn't help it. He laughed uproariously at that.

Even Rhodey, the one who was the most bitter after the whole truth of Tony's parents' death, was chuckling too much, his stomach started to hurt.

"Oh, man. I needed that," Tony wheezed, wiped the tear away and let out a long sigh. The smile was still plastered on his handsome face and he was more relaxed now. Something that his friends took notice about and their lips also turned upward a little, "Happy, tell them that I'll meet them tomorrow at...seven or eight o'clock. I don't have any press I need to attend, right?"

Pepper shook her head, "are you sure about this, Tony?"

"Yup," he answered, popping the 'p'. His smile turned a bit melancholy as he said, "I shouldn't keep looking at the past, I'm sure my mom didn't want that. It still hurt, to think that at one time, Rogers will try to hide this truth from me. But," thanks to you, Mistress he thought as he patted her hand again and his smile became wider and more genuine, "I'm glad he's not our friend."

"Yeah. Ichigo is going to go ballistic if that bastard is your friend," Rhodey snorted, "but we're not going to leave you alone with them, Tones. I don't believe them not to do anything reckless around you."

"Don't worry, Rhodey. I'm his SP. Even if they're trying to hold a secret meeting with my boss, I'm not going to budge," Clint let out a low rumble, "besides, I need to give Romanova a piece of my mind."

Tony shrugged, "Suit yourself, Clint. I'm sure your presence going to annoy them and I'm totally up for that~"

"Oh, boss. If you're going to invite Clint," Happy turned his phone and showed them the awaiting ex-SHIELD member. He smirked, "you gotta let them join you."

Natasha's shoulder tense as they walked into the Tower, her brown orbs couldn't stop absorbing everything in sight with apprehension. She didn't know why but the aura of this place was tenser than before. Granted, it was a long time ago that she visited this place after Tony kicked them all out without thinking twice. Definitely his ego talking, because he couldn't help himself to rub a salt on Captain America's wound, didn't want to miss the opportunity to destroy Steve's morale after Ichigo dressed him down. She was right when she said it was not worth it to invite the billionaire into the avenger. Iron Man yes, Tony Stark not recommended.

He didn't even know SHIELD was infiltrated by HYDRA, she scoffed.

Tony must've pulled his hair in frustration because he was a step too late to discover it by himself.

But, still. Natasha shoulders bunched in defense. This aura was too oppressive to be a friendly corporation. Steve realized it too as he unconsciously clutched the hem of his shirt, the other hand was ready to pull the shield that was strapped on his back. Was it the guards? They sure looked intimidating for a normal citizen; with a black coat, black glasses and a hidden gun holstered on their waist. And from their stance and gait, they know how to defend themselves, know to fight in hand to hand combat and the weapon was also not their last resort. She could identify it because it felt like she was looking at herself in a mirror.

(And, was it just her feeling or all of these new guards felt familiar?)

Natasha could finally relax her posture slightly when they arrived at the conference room. Happy, the head guard that guided them to this room stepped out and said to wait here as he will call his boss in. She roamed her orbs around, eyeing at the cameras that recorded every single bit of their movement. She remembered JARVIS last threat and unintentionally shivered, though she covered it well. Best not to alarmed him then. The turrets on the front porch the AI used to threatened them yesterday were intimidating enough. She didn't want to think that they were covered with another set of turrets inside this conference room.

It was ten minutes after their supposed appointment. And the billionaire was still nowhere to be seen. Natasha started to get annoyed. Trust Tony to make them wait. He just wanted to show them that he was the one in power here, that they could do nothing and don't even try to demand him if they want his cooperation; that must be what was going on inside that 'genius' brain of him. She seethed. If only they could ask for Colonel Rhodes instead. But of course, he's a soldier. It was not written on his job requirement to fulfill the Avenger wishes. Even though they were trying to protect the citizen just like him and—

She snapped her attention back, instantly duck to the side—

STAB

—and avoided the sudden appearance of an arrow that, if she was a few seconds late, it'll pierce her forehead like a butter.

"Wha—" Steve was on his feet, shield ready and eyes narrowed, thinking that it was a villain attack. But Natasha recognized that arrow. A very familiar arrow that always helped her finish the assassination job Director Fury ordered her to. She straightened her posture, convinced the alert hero to halt his attack and turned her head to the open door.

"Clint?" she started, "is that you?"

It was silent. Before the black-haired archer stepped out from behind the door; holding his trusty bow in his right hand and one of his quivers on the other one. She was shocked that the man was here as she knew that he was retired. Did he apply for a job in Stark Industries? He was wearing a tight, black T-shirt and bringing his weapon along, so he was in the guard section? She almost smiled at him. It was their (morbid) past time to shot each other as a greeting so it didn't bother her much. Besides, it has been a long time and he hadn't contacted her as much as he was still in the SHIELD before, she missed him. But a murderous glint flashed inside his black orbs, making her stop.

"Clint? What ha—"

"Are you...even thinking, Romanova?" he snarled, low and ferocious, it jolted Natasha back. And he didn't use her given name too.

"What are you talking about?"

"I'm talking about that info dump!" he shouted, an angry shudder went through his whole body, "why did you dump all of those files to the internet? For the whole world to see? Why?"

Steve, who was shocked at seeing a familiar face (and why did he attack them? He's not on Loki's mind control anymore, right? His eyes didn't glow blue), step forward to shift his attention to him, "Clint. You didn't know," he started slowly, trying to calm the enraged archer, "SHIELD was infiltrated by HYDRA. We need to tell the world that HYDRA is still very much active so we can stop their evil plan. That was actually the reason why we come here. To ask Tony to help us capture the HYDRA and disbanded their organization once and for all."

Natasha nodded alongside him. Yes, they were just doing the right thing. They couldn't let HYDRA stayed hidden and doing whatever they wish. She thought Clint understand their good intention when the man hadn't said any single word. Yet disbelief was written very clearly on his face and his shaking hand was ready to shoot another quiver at them. He held back. Barely.

"So...you're saying," he gritted his teeth, "that my wife and kids—my kids, that barely teenagers. And one of them are still inside my wife's womb—are HYDRA? Is that what you're saying?"

"Of course not!" Natasha was sure Steve shouted the same words. She resumed, "of course not, Clint. Your family is not a HYDRA. There's no way—"

"Then if you really think so, why did you dump all of those files? I don't need to hear your silly explanation again," he stopped her when she was ready to open her mouth, "did you even think, by dumping the files to the internet, that not only everyone will know about their existence but those HYDRA bastard will take advantage of?"

"What do you me—"

"What I mean is, they knew every agent of the SHIELD. Their real name, their face, their address, their home. A home, where their innocent, not-SHIELD family lived in. A place where they felt comfortable at, but was destroyed because HYDRA agents came to their house AND READY TO SLAUGHTERED EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEM BECAUSE YOU TWO WERE BEING STUPID AND DUMP THEIR SECRET FILES TO THE WHOLE FUCKING WORLD!"

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...what?

"Do you know what I found when I came to my house after you two moron did that retarded action?" he hissed, "a HYDRA, with his gun ready to shot my family dead. To shot Copper death. Because they're affiliated to me. Because they're the family of an ex-SHIELD. Because they might know something about their organization just because I'm their father"

No...

"Yes, I saved my family. But do you know what happened to those who I couldn't save in time?" he growled, "John and his son, Anna and her husband, Felix and his wife and his two daughters, Rin and her grandma, Matt and his girlfriend...HYDRA tortured them, killed their precious people to make them break before they also killed them. Even though they were already retired. Even though they were only working behind the desk. Even though they were my friends who worked for SHIELD because they only wanted to get the money to help their family live a happy life."

No...no way

"There's more. Oh, there's more. Allen, Jack, Emma, Marco, Lucy, Roy, Nana, Eddy, Mia...and people that I couldn't identify because they were just rookies that applied for the job not a week ago," he choked, "are you telling me...that those people are HYDRA? The people that help me train and welcomed me like I'm their own family? Tell me. ARE THOSE PEOPLE HYDRA?"

There's no way!

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In the middle of Clint shouting, in the middle of him spatting the horrible, horrible facts, headache assaulted her and her legs felt light jelly. It couldn't hold her weight anymore as she fell back to her chair; vaguely saw the captain did the same, face pale and eyes glinted with horror. Did that...did that really happen?

Did they just...killed a lot of innocent people because of their action?

"But..." Steve stuttered, hand cradling his tidy blonde locks, "but HYDRA infiltrated—"

"The only HYDRA you were so gung-ho about are those on the top," she saw Tony strode inside the conference room, black glasses hang onto the collar, brown orbs stared at them blankly and lips thinned. A hologram appeared behind him, giving them the right angle to read the file that was showed in it; a couple of people she recognized was her superior's superior, "And there were only four to five people of them that act as the agent. These people are the HYDRA you're looking for."

"See? I can just ask JARVIS to hack into the database and sorted out the real bad guy. Instead of dumping the whole thing for the bad guys to see and then for them having the data to killed everyone. You know I'm the only one in New York that have the capability to do that secretly. Why not contacted me? Because I'm not an Avenger? Because I'm just a consultant? Or because..."

He glared at Natasha so heatedly, she unconsciously took a step back, "...of my so-called ego?"

Their flinch was an answer enough.

(She never saw him this serious. This—dare she say—scary. Was this actually his real face? That that 'narcissism' was just another mask of his? That she was so biased with her own judgment it clouded her perception?)

Tony huffed, "are you sure it was not your ego that hindered you to called me? Then, congratulation. You just lost your sponsor," when the Captain looked at him questioningly, Tony folded his hand in front of his chest and said, "what? Don't look at me like that. Have you ever thought who was the one that provided you, people, with the armor you use to 'help' the citizen? Me. And do you think I gave that to you willingly? Pft, dream on. This is business, baby. Nothing is free. It took me a bonk to the head and a good scolding from my kids to planted this mentation into my head. If they're really your friends, they'll never ask something for free. Especially if they knew it was your life's income. That's called 'supporting'. If you're asking for new upgrades without spending even one penny, that's called 'parasite'"

"See? This is why I told you to come and ask me. Hope you have a job. Because I'm not your consultant anymore."

Natasha cursed herself.

They fuck this up so bad, didn't they?

"So, was that the only thing you wanna ask from this meeting? Hunting these HYDRAs?" he said, waving his hand to the hologram, "but no, thanks. The reason Nicky created Avenger was to prevent the world-scale problems, like that invasion months ago. If it's HYDRA—these people in this file that were definitely just work behind the desk and didn't have any superpower at all—you're talking about, the anti-riot can handle them just fine. Less collateral damages and casualties too."

Tony and Clint were ready to turn back and out from the room, the first was nonchalant and the latter still glaring dagger at them. Before he did though, Steve—still pale at the revelation that the thing they did was more trouble than it was worth—stood up and almost shouted.

"The scepter is in HYDRA's hand!"

That made them stop.

Steve stood with as much bravery as he could; which is, not much when the piercing glare they sent at him felt like a thousand swords went through his body, "after the battle of New York, the scepter is placed under the custody of SHIELD. One of the technicians' name is Mark Smith. He was approached by Baron von Strucker," he nodded at a particular people at the hologram, "Mark killed his lab's assistant, steal the scepter and brought it to von Struker's base. Last we heard, the base is in Sokovia."

"J, analysis," the AI beeped before the hologram was blinking in and out, showing them a plethora of files that was too fast to follow but could be read by the genius anyway, "hmm..you're right this time. J caught a weird signal in Sokovia, at this particular place," he pointed at a blank field that located at the very edge of the town, "it was the same energy as Reindeer Deer's scepter and Mind Stone."

"Then will you—"

"Hold your horses, Cap'n. I gotta asked for a permission first," before the blonde American could ask what was that supposed to means, another six holograms appeared. Steve realized it was Tony's kids—there are two new children too, Steve mussed. The first one is a high schooler with brown hair while the other is an elementary school kid with dirty-blonde hair—though one of the screens was nothing but darkness. Tony realized that too as he said, "Danny, are you ghost hunting right now? Shouldn't you be in your class?"

"But Skulker is being super annoying—argh!" a large boom and people screaming, "besides, it's Friday. Everybody wants to go home early on Friday~"

"That's not an appropriate excuse! Look at Peter! He's being a good student right now!" the said Peter waved at them while his hand was busy doing some metal shouldering on his table. Another kid peeked at the corner of the screen and Tony noticed him, "hello, are you Ned that Peter was talking about?"

"Oh my God, Tony Stark know my name!" the tubby kid whispered excitedly. He fixed his hair and goggle, glanced at the front—ensuring that their teacher was too busy with his explanation to notice them—and said, "Um...it's nice to meet you, Tony Stark, sir! I'm-I'm your fan! As the founder of R&D and as Iron Man!"

Tony chuckled, "thank you, kid. That was really nice of you. You should come here once in a while, help Peter in his work. And, if you raise your grade a little bit more, I could offer you your own intern too," Ned looked like he wanted to hyperventilate by fanboying so much. After that however, Tony's smile dimmed a bit and he spoke, "everyone heard our talk, right?"

The tranquil atmosphere changed into a serious one, the children nodded. Steve—being the 'responsible' adult he was—protested, "wait, Stark. Did you really just let your kids eavesdrop on our conversation? You shouldn't—"

"Why? Because they are only kids? You're afraid the bad guys will come after them for this?" Tony scoffed, "I know how to hide their identities, Rogers. What do you think happened to Romanova's laptop when she tried to hack into my database?" Natasha weakly glared at that. Tony was not impressed, "besides, I promised them not to hide anything anymore and stop tackling everything by myself after Killian fiasco. The least I can do is informed them what I'm going to do."

Every single of kids unanimously agreed with that. Takashi started speaking, "you're going to help them, right Tony-san?" the brunette nodded, "then bring Ichigo-san or Danny-san with you."

"Wait, what?" Tony vaguely saw Ned asked Peter to translated Takashi's word. He needs to give Ned the device if he's going to be another regular in his circle of the family then. He smirked when Steve tilted his head in confusion. Seriously, it was almost a year and he still didn't learn a new language? Well, he was not a genius like him, but come on, "why? It's nine PM over there, you should sleep."

"Oh come on, Tony. You know I can stay up late until dawn if I want to right?" Ichigo smirked, Tony grumbled. Yes, his job as Shinigami (and war) taught him to conserve as much energy as he could to last, at least, for two days.

"Awww...I wanna help too," Danny said, the hologram was still blank and the sound of a charging gun (or his Ghost Ray actually) could still be heard, "but I couldn't maintain the power for a long time" he was talking about his invisibility, "so I'm out."

"But...isn't Ichigo just a normal high-schooler?" Harley asked. (His phone was now equipped with a translator, so he understand what was the Japanese seniors were talking about; he made the phone himself by the way. Because he rejected Tony's translation device and his StarkPhone as a payment for saving him. He said he already done enough with the upgrade of his lab. And he paid him back by sending him a bunch of idea for a new tech. Of course, Tony never forget to include the kids name as the co-founder and gave seventy percent of the income to the Keener's family), "or don't tell me...you're the equivalent of a superhero in Japan? A vigilante just like Spiderman?"

Peter almost choked on that. Yeah, Tony silently snickered, he still didn't tell Harley about his identity. And Peter was clumsy too. He's going to do something so-Peter-thing, the kid was going to uncover his second persona soon. Harley is brilliant.

"Don't worry, Harley-san! Ichigo-san is strong!" Hanae chirped, "but I'm sure he's not going to accompany Tony-san to the battlefield himself"

Not with his human body, that is. Everyone In The Know had the same thought.

"Like a Man in Chair?" Ned quipped after Peter translated Hanae's word to him, "awesome~"

Tony sighed, "fine, fine. But everyone agreed to this mission of mine, right? We need to get that scepter back," he glanced at the silent Clint. The archer stiffly shook his head. It's okay, Tony could practically hear his thought, I'm okay, "we don't want anything bad happened again. And we can at least lessen the body count. I don't believe these two anymore after the disaster of the fall of the SHIELD."

Steve winced, Natasha scowled.

They nodded, "as long as we know where you are going. We also don't want to wake up with the news that you disappear. Again," Takashi pointedly stared, in which Tony just whistled innocently.

"Itsuki," Ichigo said, "I leave it you."

Haruitsuki nodded, "bye, Tony-san. Take care of yourself, okay?"

After they gave them their own goodbye—and Ned gushed that he'll visit next time Peter invited him—all of the holograms turned off. It was silent for a few seconds before they heard a clutter of something from outside the meeting room and Ichigo peaked around the corner of the front door, wearing a white T-shirt and jeans, "hey, Tony."

"Yo, Ichigo!" Tony grinned.

"W-Wait...how?" Steve stuttered, he was blinking in disbelief, "how did you get in here so fast? Aren't you still in...Japan?"

Ichigo stared at him and Steve flinched, "why do you wanna know?" Steve didn't answer and Ichigo huffed as he crossed his hands, "so, when are you going to go?"

Tony turned to the captain, he jolted and straightened, "now, if you could? As soon as we get the scepter back, the better."

"J, prepare my fastest jet," Tony commanded, "it should take us one hour top to reach Sokovia. You two bring your weapon and suit with you, right?" they nodded. Ichigo pulled out his candy and eat it. Before long, His soul was out and now Kon habituated his body. Tony smirk at the invisible (to the two Avenger member) Ichigo and spoke to Kon, "Ichigo, you stay at home and help me via the communication device, okay?" Tony didn't need him to because the real Ichigo is going to come along with them, but this was just a pretense to fool the Avenger, "play with Dum-E and Butterfinger as well. They get lonely super easily."

He pouted—which, startled Steve and Natasha. Because this was their first time to see him looking anything but frightening to them—though he nodded anyway. He skipped to the elevator as he whistled, leaving the dumbfound Avenger and the silently chuckling Tony and Clint, Ichigo in shinigami form just sighed.

"I can test my new armor for this, prepare it for me, 'kay J? Oh, by the way, Cap'n," he turned to the blonde, eyes deceptively blank, "do you have something to tell me?"

Steve blinked. He hesitantly shook his head, "no?"

Tony wryly smiled, "thought so. Let's go, Clint. We need to equip ourselves," before he was totally out of the room, however, he said, "you two can come out now. And please don't maim Romanova. We need her in her top state to finish this mission quickly."

The ventilation that located on each side suddenly opened and two people in black tight attire jumped down, Natasha unconsciously went into her fighting stance. She dropped it slightly though, as she recognized those two people.

"Maria? Leo?" Natasha's eyes widened, "you're alive?"

"Yeah. No thanks to you," Maria hissed and Natasha flinched, "You're lucky Romanova. If our boss didn't order us not to attack, I'm going to put a bullet in your head."

"You're being too nice, Maria. We should shoot her leg to incapacitate her, then her stomach and let her bleed out on the floor," Leo growled, "but of course, we should not bother Tony with homicide charge."

Steve moved to the front, trying to shield Natasha from her angry ex-teammates. But they didn't regard him other than contempt and walked out the room, giving them one more scathing glare. Natasha was never a woman who showed her expression truthfully to the world, being confined inside the Red Room did that to you. But at that second, she sighed in relief with a tint of dread.

Because she realized, that those bodyguard she saw on the entrance were ex-SHIELD agents.

And, she may be strong, but fighting twenty or so agents that basically have the same fighting skill like her?

(I really fucked up this time, huh?)

(And here I am, trying to clean my ledger but I just made it redder than before)

Tony shot another laser beam to the incoming HYDRA agents, knocking them out cold. He was ready to attack the other one, but Ichigo got to them first. His knuckle met the agent's face—he winced when he heard his nose cracked—the body flew to the end of the hallway and slumped, unconscious. Tony snickered when the grunt looked at him in wonder and took a step back, wary. They thought he did that as they couldn't see Ichigo. He was tempted to step back and let the orange-haired teen take the reign, maybe waved his hands here and there to make it seems like he has a supernatural power while Ichigo punches them right and left. But hey, he's an adult here. He needed to do his job.

Besides, punching this son of a bitch calmed him down from wanting to punch the self-righteous Hero.

Of course. Of fucking course, he was not going to tell him about that video. Why did he think otherwise?

Maybe because he was still hoping? That the nice hero his father told him as his bedtime story was still there somewhere?

He arrived at the location where the scepter was being kept at. With the last punch of Ichigo, the hallway turned silent. He cracked his stiff knuckle and grunted, "huh. At least they knew to keep this scepter out of sight," he sniffed, "ugh. The aura of that scepter is still disturbing as hell..."

"I don't feel anything though..."

"I'm in my spirit form, I become over-sensitive with this kind of thing," he stepped forward, furrowing his eyebrows, "don't you think the energy inside this Mind Stone was less than before?"

"No, seriously. I don't feel a thing. Why did you ask me?" he stepped out from his armor and approached the scepter. The Mistress slowly appeared at her usual place, "what about you, Mistress?"

"Kurosaki Ichigo is right. The energy had depleted," she hummed, "but it's recharging. It will take a couple of days for it to be back to its full power."

"They used the energy, but for what?" Tony wondered, "for new weapons? New energy or—"

"TONY!"

WHAM

He instantly swiveled his head around, stumbling back. He saw Ichigo in his fighting stance, fist on the front, orbs glinted with fury. And across the open door was a woman with dark brown hair and red coat, struggling to stand up and grunting in pain. Wait, what? Who was that? Since when she was there? He didn't hear anything at a—

The Mistress bony's hand covered his wandering eyes—

"I'm not going to let you. Tony Stark is mine."

He felt a familiar sensation in the pit of his stomach—

And he was gone.

His butt landed right on the uncomfortable ground.

"Ooof!"

Tony grunted, pinching the side of his head. He never felt this awful nausea whenever the Mistress teleported him. Although she sounded impatient and a little bit angry a second ago, so maybe that affected her teleportation power or something? And speaking of the Mistress, where is she? Usually, she will stay by his side the moment she teleported him to other places as to ensured he will not get lost. But she was nowhere to be seen. And it was so dark too. Nighttime? Where the hell the Mistress dropped him to? And what actually happened he—

"Tony-san?"

He snapped his eyes upward, looking straight at the confused gaze of Natsume Takashi and a befuddled stare of Natori Shuuichi.

...well.

At least he knew he's in Japan now.

TO BE CONTINUE

(A/N): Ned know about Peter being a SpiderMan. Because Tony said he should at least tell one of his friends too. So if something happens to Peter, he could contact Tony. But just like Harley, he didn't know Peter can see Youkai and Ghosts. And Tony also made a new suit for Peter. As a payment, Peter needs to work diligently as his intern, just like Hanae to Haruitsuki.

I don't know that Sokovia is a fully fictional region. So there's no data anywhere when I search how far New York and Sokovia was. I did find the map of Marvel universe, but wow. What a great dedication; for creating a whole, new map O.o

Reviews are appreciated

Best Regards

Akabane Kazama